Bobcats run past Panthers

PINE PRAIRIE – The Eunice High Bobcats scored nine runs in the top of the seventh inning to break open a close pitching duel on the way to a 12-2 victory over the Pine Prairie High Panthers in District 5-3A action here Tuesday night.
The first six innings of the contest was dominated by the starting pitchers, Eunice High’s Caleb Taylor and Pine Prairie’s Dylan Doucet.
Both pitchers retired the sides in the first inning before the Bobcats pushed across a run in the top of the second.
With one out, Tyler Darbonne drew a walk from Doucet. Josh Youngblood grounded into a fielders’ choice and Ian George came on to run as a courtesy runner.
George stole second base, got to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an error after Zac Guillory walked.
The Bobcats added a second run in the fourth, taking advantage of a wild streak by Doucet.
Darbonne walked and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Youngblood.
Guillory and Jonas Granger drew walks to load the bases and Darbonne scored when Cade Richard drew a walk, forcing home Darbonne.
Taylor shutout the Panthers over the first four innings, but Drake Lee singled to open the fifth and Doucet helped himself by lifting a home run over the left-field fence to tie the game at 2-2.
The Cats would take a 3-2 lead with a run in the sixth. Guillory walked and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Granger. Guillory would later score on a single by Christian Lejeune.
Lejeune had three singles to lead the Bobcat offense.
Taylor retired the Panthers in order in the sixth, setting up the big seventh inning explosion by the Bobcats.
The inning began with singles off the bats of Darbonne and Youngblood, chasing Doucet from the mound. Reliever Zac Lee was gave up a single to Guillory to load the bases and the Cats would proceed to pound out four more hits in the inning. Key hits included two-run doubles by Logan Manuel and Guillory.
Darbonne would also add a two-run single before reliever Jordan Ardoin managed to retire the side.
Taylor allowed singles to Drake Lee and Doucet in the bottom of the seventh, but retired the side without allowing a run to close the game.
Taylor, now 6-2 on the season, scattered seven hits and gave up two runs in his complete game victory. He did not walk a batter and recorded five strikeouts.
Richard had an unusual stat line in the game for the Bobcats. The Eunice High leadoff hitter reached base in all five plate appearances, drawing walks three times and being hit by a pitch two other times. A bases loaded walk gave him an RBI for the game.
The Bobcats, now 5-0 in district play and 17-5 overall, will host district foe Ville Platte today before heading to Beau Chene High for a non-district clash on Friday. The Beau Chene game is set for a 4 pm start.